Release Detail

April 20, 2006 - Nelson Opens 29-Point Lead Over Harris In Florida,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
Voters Divided On Citizenship For Immigrants

Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has opened a 56 - 27 percent lead over U.S. Rep.
Katherine Harris, his leading Republican challenger, with 14 percent undecided. Even 58 percent
of Republicans expect Nelson to win, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
This compares to a 53 - 31 percent lead for Sen. Nelson in a February 24 poll by the independent
Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University.

Today's survey also shows Florida voters are conflicted about how to handle illegal
immigration, with opinions shifting based on how questions are asked.

"Sen. Nelson has widened his lead by another 7 points over U.S. Rep. Harris since
February and the reality is that there are now even fewer undecided voters for her to convert,"
said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Given the
Herculean effort that would be needed to close such a gap, even six months from election, time is
running short for her to show progress."

"The fact that more than twice as many Floridians have an unfavorable opinion of Harris
as have a favorable one makes her task even more formidable," Brown added.

In an open-ended question, where voters can give any answer, 13 percent of Florida voters
now rank immigration as the most important problem facing the state, second only to education-
related issues, listed by 24 percent.

Voters oppose 54 - 41 percent making it easier for illegal immigrants to become U.S.
citizens. But voters split 48 - 47 percent making it easier for illegal immigrants to become legal
workers.

And when voters are asked to choose between two approaches to the illegal immigration
problem currently being considered by Congress:

72 percent support a long-term process where an immigrant gets a temporary work visa,
pays a fine and back taxes, learns English and ultimately becomes a citizen;

24 percent support making illegal immigration a crime and barring illegal
immigrants from the U.S.

Recent pro-immigrant demonstrations have left 38 percent of voters less sympathetic to the
demonstrators' goals, while 17 percent are more sympathetic.

"Immigration has caught the attention of Florida voters and the issue's complexity is
reflected in voter ambivalence. Public opinion is all over the map, especially on the key issue of
citizenship," Brown said.

In an early look at the 2008 presidential race, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is the pick of
43 percent of Florida Democrats, while former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani leads the
Republican pack with 42 percent, followed by Arizona Sen. John McCain with 26 percent. In
general election matchups, Giuliani beats Sen. Clinton 52 - 41 percent and McCain tops Clinton
48 - 42 percent in Florida.

From April 11 - 17, Quinnipiac University surveyed 951 Florida registered voters with a
margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points. The survey includes 383 Democratic voters and 385
Republicans, each group with a margin of error of +/- 5 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the nation
as a public service and for research. For additional data-www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Nelson is handling his job as
United States Senator?

TREND: Regardless of how you intend to vote, who do you think would win the
Senate election - Bill Nelson or Katherine Harris?

Apr 20 Aug 31
2006 2005

Nelson 70 56
Harris 16 24
DK/NA 15 20

19. (If registered Democrat) Who would you most like to see the Democrats
nominate for President in 2008 if the candidates were New York Senator
Hillary Rodham Clinton, Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, former Virginia Governor
Mark Warner, Delaware Senator Joseph Biden, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry,
former North Carolina Senator John Edwards and Indiana Senator Evan Bayh?

TREND: Who would you most like to see the Democrats nominate for President in
2008 if the candidates were; New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Wisconsin
Senator Russ Feingold, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner, Delaware Senator
Joseph Biden, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, former North Carolina Senator
John Edwards, and Indiana Senator Evan Bayh? (na = not asked)

20. (If registered Republican)Who would you like to see the Republicans nominate
for President in 2008 if the candidates were Arizona Senator John McCain,
Virginia Senator George Allen, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, former New
York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney?

TREND: Who would you most like to see the Republicans nominate for President in
2008 if the candidates were Arizona Senator John McCain, Virginia Senator
George Allen, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, former New York City Mayor
Rudolph Giuliani and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney? (na = not asked)

31. Two different approaches have been suggested to deal with illegal immigrants.
Please tell me which comes closest to your view -
A)Make illegal immigration a crime and not allow anyone who entered the country
illegally to work or stay in the United States under any circumstances. OR
B)Allow illegal immigrants to get temporary work visas, and allow them to earn
permanent residence and eventual citizenship after a certain number of years if
they learn English, pay a fine, pay any back taxes, and have no criminal record.

32. As you may know, recently there have been large demonstrations around the
country by people who want Congress to change the law to make it possible for
illegal immigrants to become legal residents and become citizens. Have those
demonstrations made you more sympathetic or less sympathetic to their goals, or
have they not affected your opinion on the issue at all?

35. From what you have seen or heard about the situation in Iraq, what should
the United States do? Should the U.S. --
A)increase the number of U.S. troops in Iraq,
B)keep the same number of U.S. troops in Iraq as there are now,
C)decrease the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, or
D)remove all its troops from Iraq?